Pipe bomb found in field

A pipe bomb was discovered and safely detonated in a rural Washington County field on Saturday afternoon.

No suspects were immediately identified in the case.

According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, at 2:49 p.m. on April 20, sheriff's deputies responded to the area of Southwest Clark Hill Road and Southwest Long Road on a report of a pipe bomb found in a field. When they arrived, the deputies contacted Rojelio Alvardo-Nunez, 56, of Cornelius, who said he found the device. He reported finding the device to his employer who called 911.

The device appeared to be a legitimate pipe bomb, so the Portland Bomb Squad was contacted. A bomb technician determined the best course of action was to detonate the device. It was moved by the technician to a safer location and detonated.

After detonating the device, the technician was able to confirm the device was a bomb. However, he was not able to determine how much explosive compound or type of compound was contained within the device.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Washington County Sheriff's Office.